< Job 17 >
1 My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished — graves [are] for me.
Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
2 If not — mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?
3 Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
4 For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
5 For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
6 And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.
7 And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.
8 Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
9 And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And — dumb are they all.
Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
10 Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.
11 My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
12 Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.
13 If I wait — Sheol [is] my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch. (Sheol )
Uba ngilinda, ingcwaba lizakuba yindlu yami; ngendlala umbheda wami emnyameni. (Sheol )
14 To corruption I have called: — 'Thou [art] my father.' 'My mother' and 'my sister' — to the worm.
Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
15 And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
16 [To] the parts of Sheol ye go down, If together on the dust we may rest. (Sheol )
Kuzakwehlela kumijabo yengcwaba, lapho sizaphumula khona ndawonye enhlabathini. (Sheol )